3.21.2010

Certified Transfer Technician

Tonight dad & I were trained on how to help mom transfer from her wheelchair to the bed & vice versa. While practicing I dropped her! No, just teasing. I didn't drop her. My own child ate poop yesterday, but at least today I did not drop my mother.

So we can do the transfers, but Mom mentioned she'd rather come home with a walker & not a wheelchair. We agree completely. But you just never know how fast or slow this stuff happens, so we'll take it one day at a time. I was helping her stretch her left leg today & having her push it back towards me- she has a good amount of strength in her left leg, if not neccessarily control just yet. From what I hear, the left arm takes the longest to "come back." We met with mom's recreational therapist yesterday who took a lot of notes on the things mom does in her daily life- gardening, cooking, stained glass, etc. She said that the most important thing she wanted to do again was "rock her grandbaby." The rec therapist suggested that mom meet with the horticultural therapist (who knew there was such a thing!) who will help her learn to modify her gardening activities. There's also some cooking "classes" she can attend to learn how to get around safely in the kitchen.

She's still craving cigarettes pretty bad. She holds my dad accountable for this, but also expects luke to help her out (both are ex-smokers). She constantly asks if we drove her car to the hospital (I think she has cigarettes hidden in there somehhere) and when my dad leaves she says, "Don't let me down tomorrow Casey." This morning she said she needed to go outside for a bit before laying down. She wanted a cigarette. Forget the fact you can't smoke on hospital grounds- we're not giving her any! We just change the subject most of the time, but sometimes we make up funny excuses. Today as she was wheeling away from my dad she said, "Your excuses are really starting to suck. All the way to the divorce court." :) Now how can you not smile at that?

About Me

Michelle:
mom to johonna. born & raised in Oregon. never been skiing. don't like to fish. never had a veggie burger. However...do enjoy coffee. equally fond of beer. married my high school sweetheart. love my dog; sing to my dog. like to bbq.
have been hit & run TWICE. (my car was hit, not me). stop for stray animals. oldest of three. love love love my family. accepted christ as my savior in 9th grade. no known allergies. have a fish pond in the backyard. increasingly sensitive to motion sickness.
Luke:
jo's daddy. loves the broncos. married michelle. lucky. doesn't know his wife wrote his blog profile for him. listens to books on cd while he drives. loyal and protecting. darn funny. loves his dog; sings to his dog. plays lots of cards. snores. oldest of seven. doesn't like olives or soy sauce. left handed. likes to sleep in. doesn't drink coffee. had his tonsils removed as a child.